Chapter 8: Malaria's Plot

A black-feathered raven with a yellow beak was perched on a dead tree branch. "Did those animals say what I think they said?" he asked himself, "Oh, Malaria's gonna be so mad when she finds out that Bethylasia's back!" The raven flew many miles back to the restricted section, Malaria's domain.

The restricted section looked like something out of a horrific fairy tale; the skies were purple with black clouds, bats and birds of prey circled high above, and up atop the highest hill was Malaria's castle. It was a black castle with smoky clouds and ghosts coming out of its dark windows, a moat filled with cloudy water and hungry crocodiles and snakes, and a distinctive high tower where Malaria concocted her evil spells. Eddie flew up to that particular tower, and found Malaria nervously fidgeting her hands and hips in her favorite chair. "Ten years of peace and quiet," she said to herself, "And now something's troubling me!"
"Your excellency," said Eddie, "I think I may know…"
"My ghost minions are acting stranger than usual. They're moaning harder than they've ever been in the past decade! I need to look at my crystal ball and see." Just then, Malaria saw Eddie. "Eddie, where have you been?" Malaria demanded as she grabbed the raven around his abdomen, "Here I am, feeling sick and suffering horrific dreams while you go lollygagging about?"
"But your excellency," protested Eddie, "I think I know what may be troubling you!"
"You do?" Malaria asked, calming down.
"Yes! I saw Bethylasia and those books-turned animals walking in the Crypts of Horror!"
"But this can't be!" said Malaria, "Bethylasia has been missing for ten- wait! Did you say, 'Bethylasia?'"
The poor raven nodded.
"Do you mean that I will be defeated?" Malaria asked with worry.
Eddie was lost in words for what to say. "I hope not," he said, "But there's a slight chance that this girl in the library might…"
"Bethylasia or not, she can't stop me!" said Malaria, "I'll make sure that my revenge against the little brat's family and grandfather is complete!" Malaria summoned her ghost demons and started singing:

In the dark of the night, I was tossing and turning,
And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be,
It scared me out of my wits:
A corpse falling to bits!
Then I opened my eyes, and the nightmare was me!

The evil sorceress went over to her black crystal ball, waved her hand, and was given a vision of Becca walking through the graveyard with her new friends.

I was once the most mystical dame in all Libralia,
When my family betrayed me, they made a mistake!
My curse made each of them pay,
But one little girl got away!
Bethylasia, beware! Malaria's awake!

Then the ghosts, bats, spiders, and rats sang a chorus:

In the dark of the night, evil will find her,
In the dark of the night, just before dawn!

Malaria rummaged through some books and picked up a big, purple book with an onyx on the front cover.

Revenge will be sweet,
When the curse is complete!
(In the dark of the night)
She'll be gone!

The sorceress turned a few pages until she found the right one to concoct a magic spell from the onyx pendant on her necklace.

I can feel that my powers are slowly returning,
Tie my sash and a dash of cologne for that smell,
As the pieces fall into place,
I'll see her crawl into place!
Do svidaniya, Becca, your grace!
Farewell!

Creatures: In the dark of the night, terror will strike her!
Malaria: Terror's the least I can do!
Creatures: In the dark of the night, evil will brew!
Malaria: Soon she will feel,
That her nightmares are real!
(In the dark of the night)
She'll be through!

In the dark of the night, evil will find her! (Find her)
In the dark of the night, terror comes true! (Doom her)
My dear, here's a sign
It's the end of the line!
(In the dark of the night (2x))

At last, Malaria sent her tens of thousands of ghost minions to scale the horror section and find the perfect fright for Becca and her friends!

Come my minions, rise for your mistress,
Let your evil shine!
(In the dark of the night (2x))
Find her now! Yes, fly ever faster!
(In the dark of the night (3x))
She'll be mine!

Author's Note: The Song "In the Dark of the Night" is from Anastasia (c) Fox